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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of Frankie Knuckles, "The Godfather of House 
4Music"; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Frankie Knuckles received the moniker, "The 
6Godfather of House Music", for being universally credited as a 
7pioneer of dance music and for his role in creating modern 
8dance music's global DJ culture; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, Frankie Knuckles's tenure at the ground-breaking 
10nightclub, The Warehouse, in the 1980s, his friendships with 
11such legendary figures as Paradise Garage DJ Larry Levan, and 
12his work with such artists as Diana Ross and The Pet Shop Boys 
13took him to the top of his industry; and
  
 
14    WHEREAS, Frankie Knuckles kept the music going with the 
15opening of his club, the Power Plant in 1983, and by performing 
16at some of the world's most famous clubs throughout the 1990s; 
17in 1987, he joined Def Mix Productions and translated his love 
18of playing music into a career in making music; he re-mixed 
19such artists as Diana Ross, The Pet Shop Boys, Luther Vandross, 
20Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, and Toni Braxton; in the 1990s, 
21he delivered the pop-crossover single "Whistle Song" and a pair 
22of albums, "Beyond the Mix" and "Welcome to the Real World";  
 
 
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1and
  
 
2    WHEREAS, In 1997, Frankie Knuckles became the first DJ to 
3be crowned with the newly created Grammy Award for Remixer of 
4the Year;  former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley declared August 
525, 2004 as "Frankie Knuckles Day" and the Chicago City Council 
6renamed the street where the legendary "Warehouse" once stood 
7as "Frankie Knuckles Way"; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, Frankie Knuckles, never one to slow down, returned 
9to making original music in 2004 with a new album, "A New 
10Reality", which gave him a Billboard number one hit with "Back 
11n da Day"; in April of 2006, he created his own music company, 
12"NOICE!", released a remix album, "DubJ's D'Light", and worked 
13with iconic house music vocalist, Jamie Principle, on her new 
14album; from 2011-2012, he teamed up with Eric Kupper to produce 
15the album, "Director's Cut", which spawned 2 #1 hits; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Frankie Knuckles's legacy and love will be 
17remembered and cherished by his family; Theria Carter, sister; 
18Demetria, niece; Christopher Grant, brother; Julius Knuckles, 
19brother; the Knuckles family of South Carolina and other 
20relatives; his D/E Entertainment family; Frederick Dunson, 
21best friend and business partner; Dennis Evans, business 
22partner; Maurice Chaytor, assistant; Judy Weinstein, manager; 
23David Morales, business partner; his Def Mix family; Atyani 
 
 
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1Howard, Goddaughter; Danny Alexander, Godson; and a host of 
2fans that he brought so much joy to through his music and the 
3dance floor; therefore, be it
  
 
4    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL 
5ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
6Frankie Knuckles, "The Godfather of House Music", and extend 
7our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who 
8knew and loved him; and be it further
  
 
9    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
10presented to the family of Frankie Knuckles as an expression of 
11our deepest sympathy.